Driving development through global water security

Context

Around four billion people live in countries where there is a shortage of water. A lack of water security as a result of climate change and ecosystem destruction increases the risk of migration, conflict and inequality. Water security is therefore essential to ensure better drinking water supplies and sanitation, hygiene, functioning ecosystems, food, nutrition and energy security, as well as peace and stability, and a climate resilient development.

Objective

Global water security is improved as a result of better cooperation and management among selected partner institutions. One focus is on pan-African organisations.

Approach

The project advises the African Union Commission (AUC) and African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to enable them to better manage and support Africa’s water architecture. This involves a large number of officials in local, national and transnational administrations. The river and lake basin organisations play a particularly important role here as they manage transboundary waters.

The project supports efforts to improve institutional frameworks and water governance and enables AUC and AMCOW to secure financing and investment for water infrastructure, to monitor water and to report on developments, with particular support to AMCOW. In addition to advisory services, AMCOW receives funding from the project to strengthen its personnel and institutional capacities. These activities are cofinanced by the European Union as part of a Team Europe Initiative.

The project is also planning to establish a global knowledge and advisory platform to share innovative approaches to water security, especially in transboundary contexts.

In addition, it assists its partners in increasing water security overall, which helps to reduce cross-border resource conflicts.

Last update: March 2024